Welcome Spring- June.

The weather down south has been awesome, and we've been spending hours outside every day. It's been in the 70s all week and many people have been reminding mama that it technically isn't even spring yet. Today officially began spring and temps reached 75.

Mama's been wanting a patio set and got her birthday present early this year. Papa said if we were going to get one, he wanted it now before it got too hot to use it. Lucky for us, we found a great used set on Craigslist that met all of mama's requirements, most notably mesh seats and an umbrella. We've eaten most of our meals outside since we bought it, including lunch today, which included hot dogs on the grill, a full pound of strawberries...

...and popsicles!

Yes, I am in a high chair. One of our neighbors dropped it off this week for us to use when the new baby comes. I've been begging to use it and mama found that I'm very happy playing with toys in it. This makes it much easier to get yard work done when I'm not crying for someone to push me in the swing.

And have they been getting work done! Mama paid Henry to clear out a rock garden and all the extra rocks have been going to the walkway above the steps, which had many bare spots. Mama also spent time yesterday pulling up the border logs and digging a new trench for them since they were always getting kicked over.

In that tiny little hole in the sidewalk, there used to be a fig tree, but it completely blocked the front step, was starting a crack in the sidewalk, and didn't produce any fruit. Mama did some research online and came to the conclusion that a fig tree needs vigilant trimmings and this one hadn't had any in quite some time. She also learned that supposedly it's very easily to propagate new trees from trimmings, so we planted 3 branches in the backyard and might have a little fig orchard some day (though we're not holding out hope). Now that the tree is gone, mama noticedhow dirty the bricks are and wants to rent a power washer. Also, the railing on the front steps is rusted and needs fixed. We should have left the tree up. Now we'll never know which door people are knocking at.

Back in the back yard, we've been working an developing a garden plot. Mama's been working in the compost she's been piling up all winter, but it doesn't disguise the fact that we're working with just clay and rocks in the back yard. Mama didn't want to put down the money to buy potting soil, but did get some plant food to sprinkle in. She and Henry planted broccoli (from plants), and peas, carrots, and sugar snap peas from seed. Those two plants up front are the strawberry plants we planted, too. The people at the Lowe's tried to convince mama to buy all plants, but they cost three times as much as seed and she didn't want to put too much money in a garden that we're not entirely sure will grow. We're still planning on tomatoes, beans (green and cherokee wax), peppers, and peanuts once it gets warmer, plus a second crop of carrots and peas in the fall.

Here's the other rock garden mama and papa cleaned out. When we were down for our naps, she planted mint (which they don't sell seeds for, apparently), cilantro, parsley, basil, rosemary, oregano, sage, and dill.

Under our window box, we have a constant friend- a little lizard Henry named June, because he loves me so much. It's always basking in the sun right under our window, but might not stay much longer because papa destroyed its nest.

Mama is trying to decide what to do with this little spot by our second front door. Does anyone have any ideas? We'd like to do something besides planting more azalea bushes, but really don't want to put in much effort in keeping it nice.

After supper, we were going to go to a Clemson baseball game (we go at least two a week) when Henry bit it on the driveway. His nose was bleeding and papa took him inside to fix him up. Mama was afraid his nose was broken and she won't get involved with broken noses, so she stayed outside.

While they were upstairs, I got to eat my baseball game treat- a sucker.

Delicious!

Buster eventually emerged from the house with band-aids on his nose, hand and both knees.

Mama assumed they wouldn't be going to the game until Henry burst into tears and demanded he could go, even if he had to limp heavily and hold his hand like that the whole time. Mama caved and we got to go. We got to run around until we were both on the verge of meltdowns. After two straight days of being outside in the garden for hours and up late at baseball games, we were pretty zonked when we got home. But Henry was still sharp enough to catch mama in the act of sneaking candy in the van.

Henry: What's that sound?

Mama (quickly hiding her box of Nerds): What are you talking about?

Henry: What's that shaky sound?

Mama (not wanting to share): Maybe we drove over some leaves.

Henry: I've never heard them make that sound before.

Mama: We'll we probably already passed it, whatever it was.

Henry: That sounds has been following us all the way home.

Mama sits in silence while papa tries not to laugh.

Henry: I just wonder what it could be.

Mama: Fine. It's candy.

Henry: Can we have some?

And he scored us each a handful of delicious Nerds!